Hadraniel

Sources present Hadraniel within Jewish rabbinic and mystical corpora as a named angel whose name means “Majesty” or “Greatness of God,” functioning as an appointed guardian of a specific heavenly gate. Narratives record him confronting Moses during the prophet’s ascent to receive the Torah and speaking in Zoharic episodes about secret books (e.g., the Book of Raziel). Some later or adjacent traditions list him among subordinates to other heavenly princes (for example, Gnostic lists that place him under Jehuel, prince of fire), indicating re‑placement across systems rather than a single origin myth.

Accounts emphasize immense size and an overwhelming, terrifying presence rather than detailed anthropomorphism: one summary says he is “more than sixty myriads of parasangs” tall (approximately, as given, on that scale) and a daunting figure to face. Zoharic descriptions attribute a sonorous, world‑penetrating proclamation to him and the Revelation of Moses tradition describes lightning‑like flashes issuing from his speech. Encounters provoke awe and fear in humans — Moses is described as speechless and made to weep in one narrative.

Hadraniel functions as gatekeeper and authority at the second gate of heaven, able to bar or question those who approach for revelation and to guide them when ordered by God. Zoharic material attributes to him a voice that, when proclaiming the Lord’s will, penetrates 200,000 firmaments; the Revelation of Moses tradition (as summarized) states that with every word from his mouth go forth 12,000 flashes of lightning. He can obstruct human access to revelation (as with Moses) but is also subject to divine reprimand and can act obediently as a guide thereafter. Some secondary listings place him as a subordinate within other angelic hierarchies (e.g., under Jehuel in one Gnostic list).